There Exists a Bench for Butterflies.

I know you--
When the sky is a slate gray color
And you know it’d rather be somewhere else
With a brighter color and a little movement,
When the waves are dusty in an over-used throat
As they come against the sides like they’re trying to remember,
Trying to get somewhere,
Trying to capture you something better than what you have.
And you can’t help but feel a little empathetic.

I know you--
When my feet are wandering planted,
And my emotions come like the tides,
And the sky is always enough,
But you would never tell
Because that means it would leave.
And the earth is always too much,
But you keep it, because you’re afraid
If it knows, it will turn into what you need.

I know you--
When the sky pretends that it’s a mirror
And it doesn’t mind that you keep forgetting,
Because at least it knows it’s needed.
And the sea sounds of your own voice
Because you gave it away while you were
Busy trying something you knew would fall through,
Before you knew the time would come when
All you’d want, is to have it back.

I know you--
When the day feels like it’s ending,
And the waves feel like they’re evaporating,
And the air wraps around like a blanket
Because it knows what it is to be warmer,
When the sea comes into fibers
Woven into sky with expectance
And you can feel it straining,
Desiring something more.

I know you—
When it’s almost dark and there’s only a fleck
Of light caught in the sky,
And everything is still edged in gray,
Because the sky wishes it was closer.
And there’s pulling at all the corners
To keep something from growing cold
And the ocean wishes it was steadier,
To keep you from wondering if you’re going to stay
While the birds come and come
And you hold it all tighter,
To keep from disappearing.

I know you—
When I recover. Myself,
In the sand, by the side,
A little wind carried and
A little exposed,
With a need and a truth:
I can’t remember how it feels to have you anymore.